Wichita eagle., 1887-09-25
ABOUT THE WESTERN CITIES.
4 Traveller Who has Seen Them An
Writes His Opinions.
ne Greencsstle. nnd. J Banner

the past year | have been at all the boom
Ing towns Of almost every section Of tn
country, and now propose TO make som
comparisons of them to Wichita, ID as
place in which to live and (2) as place il
which to make money. The Californi,
boom is more on account Of the climate
there than as place for active business
While, Of course business must thrive witt
al influx of people, yet 1t is not likely Il
become permanent nor extensive for sucf
reasons. Without suitable timber
for the manufacture of machinery
b any great extent, and cea
only found In few Localities, it will be 6
great while before California manufactured
goods will amount to much As place tc
live California is unexcelled by reason Of its
! climate and fruits, but as place to make
money, outside of few lines, il is not the
best.
| The Geobic iron region of Wisconsin is a
| fine field for speculation in iron lands and
ore beds, but as a place 10 live it Is not to
be considered by those who want the best
of home places The climate is cold and
| the country unattractive In appearance, and
produces little of food.
Birmingham, Alabama, is purely an iron
producing point, outside of which it has no
inducements. The country about it
is poor and there is no diversity
in business pursuits II you would
manufacture iron and steel, it is one Of
number of good places for that pur-
pose, but to engage in any other line of
business, or for a delightful place to live
Birmingham ranks low The hot summer
months are very hot and the winter months
bring much rain.
Dakota has many inducements as place
Of happiness and prosperity, but the cold
weather there is chilling alike to people
and business
Kansas City has been marvel Of growth
and prosperity and is so yet to an extent,
but the flood tide has passed there and as q
place Of business and residence il has some
Disadvantages. It isnear st. Louis, which
is strong rival to business it is also
nearer to ST. Joseph, which Is trade cen
ka trade by Omaha and Chicago, and the
Colorado trade is taken from it by Denver,
so that for business it has not the
clear field it had a few years ago The
site Of Kansas City Is unattrac,ive and far
from being beautiful. Many of the streets
are along lodges and up steep hills, while
the wash Of the muddy Missouri is con.
stantly making the river front property in
secure. There are no really beautiful
streets or drives, and there can never be
any. These facts destroy its disturbances
as residence place great deal
The FlOl ida boom Is purely on account
Of the warm climate In the winter season.
People go there to leave In short time,
and not to build up the state. 1t is poor as
a place for general business, and only de-
sirable as q residence place a few months
in the year.
Omaha is a magnificent city In many
respects. Its volume of business IS
larger each month, and it has few su-
periOrs as a business centre But the |
winter is severe and of great length, |
which is an objection toOmaha as g place TO |
i've In. So with Nebraska generally, ex
,ept in the southern part. II is state of |
great fertility of soil and charming per-
'pective, but the cold wave is unpleasant.
This leads me to the consideration of
Wichita as place Of residence and bust
ness. The site of WITCH ia Is beautiful in
Iced. Founded upon the east bank of the
Arkansas, at the mouth Of the Little Ar
kansas, the soil Is of the richest quality
md lays as level plain for two miles back
from the river, where it rises evenly for
presenting fine view and af-
ording perfect drainage. The two rivers
ire lined with a growth of cottonwood,
I'm, maple and walnut trees, while the
5rowth Of trees along the streets
i've the place an appearance of a real for
st city. The streets are laid off at right
ngles and are very wide, and always in
iue condition. There are two plants of
lectriC light. gas works, street cars, cleo
ric cars and steam motor cars, water works
nd fire department. There are all kinds
f churches, aud the buildings are of the
NEST quality and architecture. The bust
cs5 blocks and the new ones now in con ,
truction are edifices that would grace any
ity. Schools are numerous, and there are
even colleges and academies here The
fairfield University, now nearing compile {
lon, Is one of the finest, and | wish the ,
born builders" of DePauw University
ould see it. There are many fine resi-
ences, and some are real palaces. The |
Innate Of this section is all that could 8
e desired. The days of sunshine are
lmost continuous, and the hottest DAYS
ave cool breezes and cool nights. 5
here is mo severe weather during the |
inter, and outdoor work goes right on. G
he roads in this country are perfect as the :
est macadami1ed, which is feature to be
onsidered always. The people here are '
,mperate and progressive, and are full of t
ush and enterprise. +
The above are some points Wichita pos 7
esses as place TO live in It's claims as a !
usiness place are not few. d
Located Ia the finest agricultural section L
n the continent, it can supply food for y
very market. II is far enough from any
rye city to be the distributing point for a
ast area of country. 1t is already the t
rgest city in Kansas, and Is the metropo- q
S for northern Texas, for the Indian Ter !;
tory, for southern Colorado, for New )
Iexico, besides central, western and south
n Kansas. territory populated and being a
eveloped by thriving class of people. b
estdes being great business center. it Is
.st becoming a manufacturing place
uring the past year the Burton car works
ave been built, a match factory is con- r
acted for, two large iron works, carriage 4
Ictory, planning mill. and other manufac-
'ries, altogether employing near four :,
lOussnd men, have been Instituted. This q
unprecedented, and the growth Of the
ty is without parallel Look how It has n
-owni
Wichita was founded only sixteen wears .
20. In 1882 its population wss 5.7OO. k
| 1888 It was S,000-s gain of 1850 in Il
lie year In 1884 its population 5
as 12, fla gain of 474 In one year
/ 1885 the population was 16.0l9-s 4
,in Of 4, 545 In one year In 1886 the Il
)pulstion was 90. 006-a gain Of 3. eS7 In
le year! In 1887 the population Is 81, 760
showing gain of II, ;54 In one vesr. a :